(A/N: I have been informed, that the creation kit has addressed Character height, by showing that a height of 1.0 is 128 units and 128 units is 182.8 cm, and therefore, all the characters in Elder scrolls are slightly taller than I calculated.)
The enemy had stopped when Albert's sun came out. Their march halted. Albert had rested his day, but was still not fully recovered.
It had been a week since then and Albert had finally awoken.
"Albert, check on Yagrum junior, ask him about his project."
"Project sir?"
"I played it a bit close to the chest, we haven't seen him since the beginning of this war if you noticed." Tiber said with a smile.
"Fine, will you tell me where he is or do I have to track him down?" Albert asked.
"Bthalft. " Tiber stated with a smile.
Albert nodded and teleported away.
Tiber waited for several hours until Albert returned, "By Anuiel Tiber..."
"Sithis, dear Albert." Tiber corrected, "Sithis would be the correct one to address given the situation."
"But... I... But he..."
"How is the project coming Albert?" Tiber asked again.
"Not as well as he would like, but it should be more than enough." Albert said, wide-eyed.
"Good, because today is the day the citizens give their answer, and they should realize that they will be stuck with the winners, but I have offered to have the battle outside the city walls. They won't turn this offer down." Tiber went downstairs to the Elder Council room, sitting at his seat. The citizens that were chosen as representatives were sent in.
"We accept your offer for having your army protect the city from the outside, but, in the many months since you have taken over, crime is at an all time low, economy has been improving in the city. Your soldiers keep order here better than the guards, even more so now that the watch has been reduced, we would like to request that you leave 1 soldier in the city for each member of the Imperial guard that was slain or injured." The speaker for the civilians said.
"Very well then. Albert, see to it that their demands are met, pick the guard from our soldiers and march everyone else outside." Tiber ordered.
Albert bowed and went with Meroth to do Tiber's bidding.
Tiber found Psij who was reading in his room, "Psij, you have studied the notes on their shield, can you help them duplicate it?"
"Yes, of course, the three chants, one prevents physical objects from entering, one absorbs magic of all forms, and the third absorbs energy to lessen the impact on the other two. The chants at the start and end of each shift fortify it and ensure that if they die during shift change, the shield stays up at its current strength until they can be replaced. I could do all that by myself, but as I am the only one who will be producing the shield, I will not be able to defend myself, and on top of that, they did eight hour shifts and switched out, I could hold the shield on my own for two maybe three days without help, but I would need to rest for a while after that." Psij explained.
"Well, what if we-"
"I don't trust the other mages, no matter what the city came up with, they may see me as the second most powerful mage in the world and see a chance to take me out, to give themselves a fighting chance." Psij said softly.
"All right, since Albert can't guard you, what about the man who is in love with Heron? Get him up there with Heron, I guarantee, he won't do anything to harm you."
"Fine, but I doubt this thing is gonna blow over in just two days, and I don't want to risk the whole three." Psij said.
"Well, I think you will find that there is a large magical ball of energy that can sustain you for a week." Tiber said.
"You really would be willing to let me draw on Albert's ball of energy?" He asked with a chuckle.
"He said it would work for a month. It's been a week, therefore there's three weeks left and if you take half of it, it will have at least a week." Tiber explained.
"I don't know if it works that way but... Ok..." Psij said. He stood and walked with Tiber to get Ulfron and Heron.
Tiber knocked on their door, "The emperor requires your assistance." Tiber said.
Ulfron opened the door, Heron still braiding his hair, "What is it emperor?" He asked quietly.
"Psij will be on top of the tower, generating a shield to protect the city from the enemy, you are to protect him from anyone who gets the bright idea that taking him out would be to their advantage."
"Sir, what about the assassins that cover your tower?" Ulfron asked.
"What about them? Anyone who would be in the tower at this point would have a free pass past the assassins. I'm worried about those who speak for the civillians." Tiber said.
"Oh, I understand." Ulfron said.
"Bring Heron with you." Tiber ordered.
"I get to bring the love of my life with me to work?"
"Have to, not get to. Go." Tiber ordered more firmly.
Ulfron nodded vigorously and went up to the roof with Psij.
Albert appeared by his side, "The men are marching outside the city as we speak." Albert bowed.
"Good, now, alone, and we have a short break..." Tiber said with a smirk.
Albert's eyes grew wide.
Tiber pressed him up against a wall, kissing him deeply, he ran his hands through Albert's hair and his hood fell off. Tiber looked up at his hair. It was white. Tiber pulled away, "When were you going to tell me about this? What caused this? Is this why you haven't taken your hood off in front of me all week?"
"The sun... It's not actually something that imitates the sun's light... It's a tiny, temporary tear in Mundus, it will slowly heal itself because of the tiny size, but it will provide a great amount of light till the end of the month. It will give mages at the top of the tower great power." Albert said sheepishly.
"My god Albert... That's why your hair is white? Did it age you?!" Tiber said concerned.
"Yes... It took up about half my lifespan..." He smiled sheepishly, "You will not live to be 200, and now... Neither will I... My emperor." He kissed Tiber.
Tiber returned the favor, kissing him softly, pressing him back up against the wall, "Never... Ever... Shorten your life without my knowledge and permission again..." He growled.
"Never, your Imperial Majesty." Albert said breathlessly.
"Ok, you check on the mens progress and then tell Psij when it is safe to close the holes, tell him to give you enough time to clear the holes. I'll need you out there to teleport Yagrum's project here." Tiber said softly.
Albert nodded.
Tiber kissed his forehead, "You do not have permission to die, live at any cost."
"Of course... Tiber." Albert said, teleporting away.
Tiber went to his throne, pulling out his cell phone, he dialed Albert's number.
"Ok, Albert, how are things looking."
"Men are currently leaving. The last few are almost out the gates, I will go tell Psij to close the holes in five minutes." The signal cut out for a minute, "Psij, close the holes in five minutes, I will be out by then." Tiber heard no answer from Psij, but the phone line cut out again for a moment.
"Ok, we're all out. Psij is closing the holes in five minutes."
"Ok, stay at the opening till the door closes and have the troops surround the shield." Tiber ordered.
"Of course." Albert cleared his throat, "All troops, move out, I want one mage, one archer and one melee fighter in each group, and I want you to all spread out around the shield barrier evenly! No gaps!" After a bit of milling about they began to comply, "Psij has closed the holes."
"Ok, wait until they are in place." Tiber ordered.
"Ok..." Albert waited, several minutes passed and nothing happened. "We're ready."
"Teleport in Yagrum's Project!" Tiber smirked.